Chapter 546: Calling for Help
Clayton Xavier frowned and said in a low voice, "His cough has gotten a little better, but he’s so weak he’s asleep for most of the day."
He had actually wanted to take Storm Xavier to the hospital for a check-up, but the old lady said it was too hot right now and he’d get better once the weather cooled down. Clayton Xavier didn’t press the issue; after all, he wasn’t particularly close to his father.
"It’s probably just a summer cold. He’ll be fine after sleeping it off for a few days. Your dad has never been in the best of health anyway."
Grandma Huxley wasn’t concerned either. Ever since Storm Xavier had kicked his opium habit, his health had declined day by day. The villagers all said the opium had destroyed him; anyone who touched the stuff was left with a broken body, even if they managed to quit.
Clayton Xavier went home with his basin. After Tang Xiaonan and Amanda Chapman finished their fig jelly, they headed home too. Tang Xiaonan felt a great weight lift from her shoulders. With Armstrong Huxley keeping an eye on things, Mark Xavier’s fate would probably change for the better.
As they passed the Xavier’s house, the main gate was open and the front room was empty. Amanda Chapman spotted a patch of balsam flowers, blooming in a brilliant red. She cried out happily, "Xiaonan, wait! I’m going to pick some balsam flowers so we can dye our nails tonight."
"Grandma has some behind her house. We can pick them when we get back," Tang Xiaonan grumbled. She was dying from the heat and just wanted to go home.
"The ones behind Grandma’s house aren’t as red as these. Look how red they are! They’ll make our nails a beautiful, bright red."
Amanda was insistent, so Tang Xiaonan had no choice but to indulge her. She couldn’t bring herself to dampen a little girl’s enthusiasm for beauty. The balsam flowers behind the Xavier’s house were indeed exceptionally red and grew in abundance, so she went with Amanda to pick them.
Luckily, balsam flowers act as an insect repellent. So, despite the area behind the house being shady and damp, there weren’t many mosquitoes. Amanda stripped the blossoms off several plants, stuffing her pockets until they bulged.
"That’s enough," Tang Xiaonan urged. ’There’s enough here to dye the trotters of every pig back home.’
"Just one more. I’ll be done in a second."
Amanda wanted to pick even more, so Tang Xiaonan just let her be. Standing there in the cross-breeze, it felt quite cool and refreshing. The Xavier’s house was built on a very high foundation—the base alone was taller than she was. ’Only a rich family from the old days would have spent that kind of money,’ she thought.
A scraping sound came from overhead, as if a window was being pushed open. Tang Xiaonan instinctively looked up, but the window was shut. She lowered her head again, but the noise grew louder, ending with a sharp CRACK as the window was forced open. Tang Xiaonan glanced up again and was horrified to see a face like a skeleton staring down at her. It stretched its skin into a grotesque smile, revealing a row of stark white teeth.
Tang Xiaonan’s mind went blank with fright. The sweat on her skin vanished, replaced by a cold chill, and her teeth began to chatter uncontrollably. ’The sudden sight of a grinning skeleton... even as an adult, this is terrifying.’
"He... help..."
The skeletal figure’s voice was a hoarse rasp, unable to form a complete word. It was then that Tang Xiaonan recognized him—it was Storm Xavier, the man who was supposedly just a little unwell. She was stunned. ’It’s only been a week, and he’s already wasted away to a skeleton! What kind of terminal illness does he have?’
’So there is justice in this world after all!’
Storm Xavier struggled to get the word "help" out. Even though he was only speaking to two small children, he was desperate. He no longer recognized Tang Xiaonan; all he saw were two kids from the village. He clung to the desperate hope that they could get a message to his kinsmen to come and save him. Otherwise, he was surely going to die.
"Xiaonan, let’s go home!"
Amanda patted her bulging pockets with delight. ’I’ll start dyeing my nails tonight,’ she thought. ’They’re going to look so pretty.’
Storm Xavier grew frantic, his voice even more ragged. "He... help... me..."
Tang Xiaonan vaguely understood now. ’So the scumbag is asking for help.’ But what did that have to with her? Not every life was one she felt compelled to save.